Control apparatus

ABSTRACT

A control apparatus having an assembly adapted to house an object to be controlled; a first member mounted on the assembly for selective movement between a closed position, disposed in covering relation to the assembly, and an opened position, providing access to the assembly; and a second member mounted on the assembly for selective movement between a closed position, disposed in covering relation to the first member when the first member is in the closed position, and an opened position, disposed selectively to permit the first member to be moved between the closed position and the opened position thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The control of substances which are, for example, intended to be distributed in accordance with a predetermined regimen, presents difficulties which may not immediately be apparent. Such requirements as time, quantity, location, identification, limitations on usage, availability, and other instructions must precisely be performed to insure reliable and effective distribution of the substances.

These impediments are particularly acute in circumstances in which human or animal consumption or other such usage is required. In such circumstances, it is critical that the precise regimen is followed in accordance with instruction, prescription, or other direction. Where this is lacking, the substance may not be efficacious, or may cause serious consequences, or even death, as a consequence.

These adversities are substantially increased in, for example, health care facilities where a multitude of patients require different medications, strengths, dosages and the like. Hospitals, nursing homes, doctors' offices, and pharmacies are a few examples of such environments. Such facilities are notorious for the pressures, such as limited time, placed upon personnel while requiring that no errors take place. Under such conditions the sheer number of different prescriptions requires that one or more of various systems or methods be employed in an effort completely to avoid such adverse consequences. However, such prior art systems, methods and devices have proved unreliable and subject periodically to error in dispensing the medication. Furthermore, they consume more time than would be desirable; are expensive to manufacture; require an inordinate number of steps in such dispensing as intended; do not provide information which would assist in their dispensing; require the use of more space for storage than would be desirable; are not readily transferred in an ordered manner to a cart, tray, or the like employed by personnel to transport the medication; and are otherwise subject to a multiplicity of other deficiencies.

Many of these same difficulties are present in the use of nonprescription medications, and other work objects. Where nonprescription medications, for example, are displayed on a shelf in a retail store for sale, the type, dosage instructions and the like are typically displayed in very small print on the exterior of the bottle, package, or other container in which the medication is displayed and sold. The small size of the print results from the small size of the container, the significant detail of the information which must be displayed for protection, governmental regulation, advertising and still other considerations. In most instances, the print is so small that it is virtually unreadable, even with a magnifying glass or other aid. Even with such an aid, typically the print is virtually unreadable, particularly by the elderly or others with compromised vision. In addition, with such small print the printed letters forming the words are frequently blurred or otherwise indistinct so as to be unintelligible.

In any case, instructions as to usage of the contents are often ignored after an initial effort to read such instructions. The consequences are largely the same as those above set forth. There are additional possible consequences in this environment. The consumer of the product, realizing that it is a nonprescription medication, may well assume that any dosage, or other usage, of the medication will not be hazardous. This is, of course, not the case. Given the difficulty in reading the instructions, they may be ignored to the detriment of the consumer.

Therefore, it has long been known that it would be desirable to have a control apparatus which can more readily and dependably be employed to dispense a wide variety of work objects; which affords a more reliable dispensing of the work objects contained therein; which has particular utility in dispensing medications and other such work objects; which is well suited to dispensing a plurality of work objects on a sequential basis adaptive to virtually any sequence; and which is otherwise well suited to achieving tits operational objectives.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved control apparatus.

Another object is to provide such a control apparatus which is well suited to dispensing a wide variety of work objects.

Another object is to provide such a control apparatus which has application to a wide variety of operative environments in the performance of its operational objectives.

Another object is to provide such a control apparatus which has particular utility in dispensing medications and the like under readily controlled conditions.

Another object is to provide such a control apparatus which can readily be used by doctors, pharmacists and other health care workers with little or no training.

Another object is to provide such a control apparatus which can be used in a multiplicity of individual units to limit the amount of space required therefor while being individually identifiable and used with a rapidity not heretofore achieved in the art.

Another object is to provide such a control apparatus which can be employed with rapid visual acuity without the necessity of initially reading instructions.

Another object is to provide such a control apparatus which substantially eliminates the possibility for error or otherwise unintended consequences.

Another object is to provide such a control apparatus which is operable to protect its contents while possessing detailed information which is clearly readable to the user and yet can be stored for usage in a minimum amount of space.

Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purpose described which is dependable, economical, durable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects and advantages are achieved in the control apparatus of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the control apparatus of the present invention depicting the control apparatus in a fully opened configuration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the control apparatus depicted in a fully closed configuration suitable for storage and containment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the control apparatus depicted in an open, operational configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the control apparatus of the present invention in generally indicated by the numeral 10 in FIG. 1. In some instances herein the control apparatus will be referred to as a “packet” for illustrative convenience.

The control apparatus 10 is shown in FIG. 1 in a fully opened configuration 20 prior to assembly. The control apparatus is shown in FIG. 2 in a fully closed configuration 30. The control apparatus is shown in FIG. 3 in a partially opened configuration 40. More specifically, the control apparatus is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in operative configurations. The control apparatus is shown in FIG. 1 in the fully opened configuration which is prior to complete manufacture thereof, as will hereinafter be discussed in greater detail.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the control apparatus 10 is substantially constructed of a contiguous single panel, or blank, 50. Except as hereinafter discussed, the single blank is of a substantially flat configuration. The single blank can be constructed of any suitable material such a cardboard, plastic, or the like. The single blank has a substantially square housing assembly 51 contiguous therewith. The housing assembly has a substantially flat upper surface 52 and an opposite substantially flat lower surface 53. The housing assembly has a left lateral margin or bold line 54 and an opposite, substantially parallel, right lateral margin 55.

The housing assembly 51 has an upper margin, or fold line, 60 and a substantially parallel lower margin, or fold line, 61. A plurality of transparent containers, or housings, 62 are mounted on the upper surface 52 of the housing assembly. Each transparent housing has a transparent arched upper wall 63. Each transparent housing has transparent opposite, rounded end walls 64. Each of the transparent housings encloses an interior 65 which is sealed from the exterior of the subject transparent housing. However, each of the transparent housings has a downwardly facing passage, or opening, 66 which, in the representative embodiment hereof, is preferably of an oval or oblong configuration as shown, for example, in FIG. 1. The configuration of the opening can be such as to accommodate the shape of the medication, or other work object, to be dispensed. In the preferred embodiment of the subject invention, suitable indicia 67 is printed, or otherwise affixed, on the upper surface 52 of the housing assembly 51 adjacent to each of the transparent housings 62. The indicia 67, for example, notes the numerical time of day, numerical calendar date and the spelled name of the day, or abbreviations thereof, that the medication, or other work object, is to be dispensed and administered to a patient, or any other desired information.

The single blank 50 has a substantially square first panel, or member, 81 mounted on and expending along the left lateral margin or fold line 54 of the housing assembly 51. The first member extends generally to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3. The first member has an upper surface 82 and an opposite lower surface 83. The first member has a left lateral margin 84 and a right lateral margin 85 which is contiguous with the left lateral margin or fold line 54. The first member is foldable about the contiguous fold line 54 and the fold line 85. An intermediate fold line 90 is formed in the first member 81 disposed in predetermined, substantially parallel spaced relation to the right lateral margin, or fold line, 85. The distance therebetween can be of any desired size but is preferably approximately the same as the height of the transparent housings 62 of the housing assembly 51.

The first member 81 has an upper margin 91 and an opposite lower margin 92. The upper margin and the lower margin 93 are preferably substantially parallel to each other and are spaced from each other preferably the same distance as the upper margin or fold line 60 and lower margin or fold line 61 of the housing assembly 51, as shown in FIG. 1.

The upper surface 82 of the first member 81 has predetermined indicia 93 printed, or otherwise affixed, thereon. In the illustrative embodiment employed in the dispensing of medication and, as will hereinafter be described in greater detail, the predetermined indicia includes the indicia “DRUG/STRENGTH” 94; “MANUF.” 95; “LOT #” 96; “EXP. DATE” 97 and “PACKER” 98. It will be understood that the appropriate indicia, not shown, is printed or otherwise affixed to the right of each of the indicia stating the precise information indicated by the indicia. Where appropriate, or otherwise desired, the space to the right of each of the indicia 94, 95, 96, 97 and 98 can in one or more instances be left blank for the hand entry of the information identified.

The control apparatus 10 has a second panel, or member, generally indicated by the numeral 111 in FIG. 1. The second member has an upper surface 112 and an opposite lower surface 113. As shown best in FIG. 1, the second member has a left lateral margin 114 and an opposite, substantially parallel, right lateral margin 115.

The second member 111 has a lower margin, or fold line, 121 which is contiguous with the upper margin, or fold line, 60 of the housing assembly 51. The second member is foldable about the contiguous upper margin, or fold line, 60 and upper margin, or fold line, 121. The second member 111 has an intermediate fold line 123 extending between the left lateral margin 114 and right lateral margin 115 substantially parallel to and space from the lower margin, or fold line, 121. The intermediate fold line is spaced from the lower margin, or fold line, preferably, but not necessarily, approximately the same distance as the right of the transparent housings 62 of the housing assembly 51.

The second member 111 has an indicator strip 124 mounted on the lower surface 113 of the second member 111. The indicator strip has opposite ends 125, an outer margin 126 and a substantially parallel inner margin 127. The indicator strip has an inner margin 127. The indicator strip has an interior surface 128 which is preferably, although not necessarily, adhesively mounted on the lower surface 113 in the position shown and described herein. The indicator strip has an exterior surface 129 which bears an indicator color, or the like, 130 for purposes of rapid identification and for other purposes, as will hereinafter be described in greater detail.

The control apparatus 10 has a third panel, or member, 141, best shown in FIG. 1. The third member has an upper surface 142 and an opposite lower surface 143. The third member has a left lateral margin 144 and an opposite, substantially parallel, right lateral margin 145.

The third member 141 has an upper margin, or fold line, 151 which is contiguous with the lower margin, or fold line, 61 of the housing assembly 51. The second member is foldable about the contiguous lower margin, or fold line, and the upper margin, or fold line, 151. The upper surface 142 has a thin, or foil, surface 152 facing in an upward direction, as shown in FIG. 1. The foil surface extends substantially over the upper surface of the third member. The foil surface has a plurality of discharge areas 153 which are in an oval, or oblong, configuration corresponding to shapes of the downwardly facing passages, or openings, 66 of the housing assembly 51 and in predetermined positions which can individually be positioned in facing engagement therewith, as will hereinafter be described in greater detail. Each of the discharge areas can, if desired, be bounded by perforations 154.

Assembly of the control apparatus 10 is performed as hereinafter described. The appropriate transparent housings are filled with the exact medication, or medications, prescribed and at the prescribed times as indicated by the appropriate indicia 67. With this having been achieved by the appropriate means, whether by hospital personnel, a pharmacist, a doctor, mechanical means, or the like.

Assembly of the control apparatus 10 from the substantially flat fully opened configuration 20 shown in FIG. 1 to the fully closed configuration shown in FIG. 2, is achieved as hereinafter described. Referring first to the fully open, substantially flat configuration shown in FIG. 1, the third member 141 is folded downwardly about the axis defined by the lower fold line 61 and the upper fold line 151. This downward direction of folding is indicated by the arrow of movement 160, shown in FIG. 1. The folding of the third member is continued until the lower surface 143 is positioned in facing engagement with the lower surface 53 of the housing assembly 51. The third member is held in this position of facing engagement by any suitable means, such as a suitable adhesive.

When this has been achieved, each of the discharge areas 153 is individually positioned in alignment with one of the downwardly facing openings 66. The medications are captured in the interiors 65 of their respective transparent housings 62 for release therefrom for dispensing at the appropriate time, as indicated by the indicia 67 adjacent thereto on the upper surface 52.adjacent to the indicated transparent housing 62.

The first member 81 is, at this time, folded over the housing assembly 51 in the direction indicated by arrow of movement 161. More specifically, the portion of the first member between the right fold line 85 and the intermediate fold line 90 is folded upwardly and disposed substantially at right angles to the upper surface 82 of the housing assembly. The portion of the first member between the intermediate fold line 90 and the left lateral margin 84 is folded to a position substantially parallel to the upper surface 52 of the housing assembly 51 in overlaying relation to the arched upper walls 63 preferably in contact therewith. For purposes of illustrative convenience, the portion of the first member between the right fold line 85 and the intermediate fold line is identified herein as panel A in the assembled configuration, best shown in FIG. 2.

Subsequently, the second member 111 is folded over the first member 81 in the direction indicated by arrow of movement 162 to the position best shown in FIG. 2. More specifically, the portion of the second member between lower fold line 121 and the intermediate fold line 123 is folded upwardly and disposed at right angles to the upper surface 82 of the housing assembly 51. The portion of the second member between the intermediate fold line 123 and the upper margin 122 is then folded to a position substantially parallel to the upper surface 52 of the housing assembly 51 in facing overlaying relation to the first member 81, again as best shown in FIG. 2. The second member can be releasably retained in this position by any suitable means, such as adhesive, not shown. For illustrative convenience, the second member between the lower fold line 121 and the intermediate fold line 123 will be referred to herein as panel B in the assembled configuration, best shown in FIG. 2. It will be seen that in this assembled configuration, the indicator strip 124 is deployed to display the indicator color 130. It will also be seen that the indicia 93 are not visible. An area of printed information 163 is mounted on the upper surface 112 of the second member. The area of printed information includes, for example, the trademark of the control apparatus 10, the generic name for the control apparatus, any notices required by law, instructions and the like.

Again for illustrative convenience, in the assembled condition there is a space C between the housing assembly 51 and the first member 81 and, similarly, a space D between the housing assembly and the first member, as shown in FIG. 2.

Operation

The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point.

The control apparatus 10 of the present invention can, as previously indicated, be used in a wide variety of operative environments. However, in the preferred embodiment, the control apparatus is used to dispense medication, or, more specifically, to control the dispensing of the medication. In this operative environment, the environment will be discussed in use in a hospital or other health care facility. The person dispensing and administering the medication may be a nurse, nurse practitioner, nurse's aid, or the like.

In this environment, the name of the patient to whom the medication is to be dispensed can be written on the indicator color 130 of the indicator strip 124. In this environment of use, a plurality of the control apparatuses are stacked in a drawer in upstanding relation. More specifically, a multiplicity of the control apparatuses, perhaps more conveniently identified in this environment as individual “packets,” are placed in a storage drawer having at least the width of the packets. The packets are disposed with their respective indicator strips 124 extending across the tops of the packets and facing the handle end of the drawer. The packets are disposed so that the indicator strips are disposed at the top of the drawer. Such drawers for medications for individual patients are typically transported on a cart by the person assigned the task of dispensing the medications. For illustrative convenience it will be understood that the assigned person is a nurse's aid. There are typically a number of drawers containing the medication assigned to individual patients. The nurse's aid stops at each appropriate room in which a patient assigned at that time to take the medication resides.

The indicator color 130 of the indicator strip 124 serves as a code to the nurse's aid. More specifically, each indicator color indicates the specific time of day or night at which the medication is to be administered to the patient. For example, all packets which contain medication which is to be administered to the patient at 8:00 AM would have an indicator color of pink coloration. Again, for example, where the packet containing medications is to be administered at 5:00 PM, the indicator color is of orange coloration. The responsible party follows the various codes indicated by color.

When the nurse's aid reaches the room of the patient who is to receive a dosage of medication at 8:00 AM, the nurse's aid removes the appropriate color packet for the given patient. The second member 111 is then folded from engagement with the first member 81 fully to expose the first member. Subsequently, the first member is folded from the transparent housings 62 to the left, as shown in FIG. 3. This exposes the predetermined indicia 93 on the lower surface 83 of the first member 81. The nurse's aid confirms that the predetermined indicia corresponds to the indicia 67 adjacent to each transparent housing and to the other written instructions maintained for the patient.

Where the information corresponds, the nurse's aid pushes downwardly on the appropriate transparent housing to force the medication through the foil surface 152 from the discharge area 153. The medication is then administered to the patient.

These and other objects and advantages are achieved, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a control apparatus having an assembly adapted to house an object to be dispensed; and a member mounted on the assembly for selective movement between a closed position, disposed in covering relation to the assembly, and an opened position, providing access to the assembly.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is not to be limited to the illustrative details disclosed. 

1-3. (canceled)
 4. A control apparatus comprising an assembly adapted to house an object to be dispensed; a first member mounted on the assembly for selective movement between a closed position. disposed in covering relation to said assembly, and an opened position, providing access to said assembly and said first member has an inner surface on which is displayed indicia which, in the opened position of the first member, provides information regarding said object to be dispensed; and a second member mounted on said housing and being of unitary construction wherein the first member and second member are united along a fold line and the second member having an outer surface on which is displayed indicia which, in the closed position of the second member, identifies said object to be dispensed.
 5. The control apparatus of claim 4 wherein said indicia displayed on the outer surface of the second member includes an area bearing a color to identify the object to be dispensed.
 6. The control apparatus of claim 5 wherein, when the first member and the second member are in their respective closed positions, the control apparatus is disposed in a substantially rigid and flat configuration and in which said area bearing said color is disposed adjacent to an edge of the outer surface of the second member whereby a plurality of said control apparatuses can be disposed in substantially rigid, upright relation with each area thereof individually bearing a predetermined color displayed for individual identification of information relating to said object to be dispensed contained therein.
 7. The control apparatus of claim 6 wherein said assembly mounts a plurality of containers individually enclosing a compartments adapted to house said object to be dispensed substantially facing the first member when said first member is in the closed position thereof.
 8. The control apparatus of claim 7 wherein the assembly has an interior surface on which said plurality of containers are mounted and an opposite exterior surface and in which a third member is mounted on the assembly in substantially facing engagement with said exterior surface of the assembly individually to capture an object to be disposed in said container.
 9. The control apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said containers is substantially transparent to reveal the object to be dispensed in said compartment thereof, in which each of said compartments communicates with the exterior surface of the assembly and the third member has a panel therein for substantially sealing said compartments to capture said object to be dispensed therefrom within the compartment and adapted selectively to be ruptured to release the object to be dispensed from its respective container through the exterior surface of the third member to dispense said object to be dispensed from its individual container.
 10. The control apparatus of claim 8 wherein said object to be dispensed is medication to be dispensed by a person to administer the medication and said indicia displayed on the inner surface of the first member, in said opened position includes data relating to the object to be dispensed so as to confirm to said person the instructions relating to the administration of said medication.
 11. The control apparatus of claim 10 wherein said interior surface of the assembly bears indicia adjacent to each container indicating the time at which said medication is to be dispensed from each container.
 12. The control apparatus of claim 11 wherein said outer surface of the second member bears information relating to the object to be dispensed. 